clutter cleaner

It certainly is a daunting job! I have a lot of clutter that I need to get rid of. I keep things just because I might need them "someday" and that day never comes--but if I get rid of it, I'll need it! I start with one shelf or a corner of the room or problem area. Much easier that way! I have a LOT of shredding to do, too!

Well, good for you. From personal experience I can tell you it will make you feel so much better if you can keep up the momentum. I took an evening course at a local High School called "Decluttering". I started with one cupboard in the kitchen and the front hall closet. The kitchen cupboard contained all my plastic bags that I saved from shopping, also kitchen catchers and garbage bags. I got a basket and put all the plastic bags into one big bag, which I store in the basket. It made a lot of room to store the containers for the other bags. I bought some cheap plastic baskets for the closet in the front hall put them on the shelf, sorted all gloves and mitts, hats, scarves and collapsible umbrellas. I also got some stackable plastic containers for part of the closet. Piled them up one on top of the other and place out of season shoes and boots into them. Sandals in the winter, winter boots in the summer. Then I threw out single mitts, old shoes and cleared out all jackets and coats according to the season. I sent the winter coats to the cleaner and when they came back I moved them to another closet until next winter, then I moved out the summer and fall coats and jackets. I found a few that I would never wear again and gave them away. You would not believe how well I felt and I looked into these two organized places every day and admired my work. Then I slacked off. I kept these two spaces neat but did not continue the work until a few weeks ago. I live in a condo and by bedroom is adjacent to a bedroom in the next condo. I never had any problem with the previous owners who were there for the past six years; in fact I never heard a peep. Now these new people are up until all hours of the night, they talk, cough, sneeze and vacuum at 2.30 in the morning and if I cough they bang on the wall. This really upset me so I hired a contractor to put 3 inch Styrofoam and acoustic drywall on the wall. It meant I had to empty the bedroom closet and move all the accumulated boxes and bags out of the room. Those were cluttering up the floor, next to the dresser and empty floor space. Would you believe all the stuff and small tables filled up one of my bathrooms. I was shocked and distressed. I went through every item in my closet and this morning I took a huge pile of clothes to a clothes collection box for a charitable organization. I also took a huge pile of wire hangers, the type you get from the cleaners back to my dry cleaner. He was delighted to receive them, since they were not rusted or bent. During this closet clean up I also came across a wool skirt that was full of moth holes which really upset me. So I put all my good suits into suit bags, which I bought at the dollar store for one dollar each. I had also asked the contractor to put an extra shelf into the closet since there was a lot of wasted space. Now I can go through the boxes and bags and store what I still need and get rid of the rest. I already put a wicker basket that was cluttering up space on that extra shelf. It now contains 3 purses and my belts. Another point to mention is the fact that when I complained to my doctor a few months ago that I was sleeping very badly she talked about creating a totally clean environment in the bedroom, clutter free and calm. It should only contain essential furniture for the bedroom, no TV, computer or other distractions. I had the new wall painted in a soothing darker colour and will paint the remaining walls in a lighter colour. I dug out my indoor serenity fountain and will clear the dresser top of all clutter except a lamp, some pictures and the serenity fountain and a flameless candle that dispenses a faint aroma of fresh linen. I also bought a new bedside rug. It is white fake fur and was on sale for $ 34.00. Do you think I will sleep better from now on? You mention glass containers for candles and plastic containers that fruits and vegetables come in. I only keep one container for candles and right now I have saved 2 of the plastic containers. I always put most of them in the recycle bin and from time to time I take glass, dishes and pots that I no longer use to the Salvation Thrift Store. You can get very cheap attractive boxes from the Dollar Store for paper clips and rubber bands. Pencils and pens can be stacked and displayed in your den in coffee mugs. So, the biggest challenge for you is to keep up the momentum and not give up. As for Hubby, I don't know.

I had to do that a few months back when I downsized to a smaller place. It was hard at first because I have a problem getting rid of things that have some use even if it isn't something I need myself. I donated a lot of stuff to the salvation army. I had tons of those glass candle holders you mentioned because I collect candles. I just got rid of them. I set my mind to get rid of evreything and anything that I did not use and I just went for it.

Huh, no kidding. Now I just need to find the TIME to clean out all my clutter!

I slowly did my ‘de-cluttering’ when we moved house and yes, it is overwhelming! I started with a ‘keep’ pile a ‘not sure’ pile a ‘give away’ pile and a ‘rubbish’ pile and began sorting. At first it felt horrible and a complete nightmare, you know one of those jobs you wish you never started but it’s too late to go back! When I finished I went through he individual piles and went on from there by deciding what was going to go where; the key is to be ruthless and not be afraid to throw stuff out. It was not easy and it took ages but I have the house a lot better organised these days! A de-cluttering service would be ideal if you can afford it; these people are experts at sorting junk from treasure…

That is a very good way of healing yourself---cleaning up one's clutter. I'd like to do that too. I think we also have a lot of clutter at home---really loads of clutter that they constantly give me a headache. How I wish I could throw away many of these things that have become home to dusts and cobwebs. Maybe I need to give it a start like what you are doing. I need to do it ASAP.

Oh dear Pat, will just take it slowly I will be ding all that again when I move but I know there will not be a lot as I really do not hang onto things Tell Hubby to do his to

I am in the midst of de-cluttering the junks in my house. I guess half of the stuff have to be given away or ends up in the bins. I am no longer staying in my former house but still have lots of things worth looking at. I won't clutter my new house with all these stuff from the former house as it will only mean transferring the junks from one place to the other. I hope to have everything new when I move in to my new house and only with the necessary stuff. The more clutter means the more clutter will my mind be.

Hi, Pat! I think those things that clutter our houses are very prolific in their baby-making. It seems as if, no matter how much time I spend on clearing things out, there's always more than I started with. Hang in there! It's a really worthwhile thing to do!

Hey pat! I know exactly what you mean! Do you know how many times that I have done the very same thing in that last two years? And then I get more stuff and have to start all over again! I just don't ever seem to be getting anywhere! I do throw things out, but it never seems to be enough no matter what I do and then I go out and bring more stuff in! It drives my boyfriend crazy! I'm not sure how much longer we are going to be together but, it he left that would give me another whole closet to put my stuff in!

It may take a while but I would take it a little at a time so not to get overwelmed. I have been on a bit of an organizing spree myself lately. I did once read that your surroundings are directly related to how you feel inside. It kind of reflects it.

I have the same issue, but my daughter spent a day helping me and we organized what were necessities, put things like the too-big too-small clothes in good plastic storage containers in the storage unit, and donated the rest to Goodwill. The little odds and ends that we truly do use regularly but that end up everywhere, we organized into a plastic box that has small compartments. Just things like that...I kept inside what I truly do use and love, stored away what I do not want to buy all over again should they be needed, and donated or dumped the rest. Having her help made all the difference. Hubby??? Just do it when he's not there to insist he still needs and uses it all lol. Chances are, he'll never miss it if he doesn't see it going out the door. The rest you can organize, but of course, it never lasts long (sigh) That seems to be the hardest part for me. I get things caught up and decluttered on my good days, but on my "sickish" days, it tends to start getting ahead of me again.

I am forever having a clear out in my house and like you are saying there are lots of things that you find and if you want to get rid of things then you also have to plan ahead as the rubbish collectors will only take a bin at a time.I set myself goals as that way it is alot easier to carry out an achive these goals.I aim for at least one black large bag of rubbish aday as well as i tend to use the peoples bins in the same road as mine if i have my bins full up.If i still have rubbish when the bins are emptied then i still carry on as i know the rubbish is ready to go when there is room in the bin and the rubbish then is outside rather than indoors.I find it easier to either aim for one room at a time or go rubbish hunting and then the next day look in the cupboards.So far soo good as i am keeping up with all the rubbish outside as well and then i treat myself at the end of the week.

Clutter is such a hard problem. When i get in the mood to go on a cleaning spree i have a few rules i set for myself and questions i ask myself. I look at each object and say.... Have you used this item in the last 30 days? Do i have an assigned spot to keep this item up and out of the way? Is this item something someone else i know could use? Does this item have any value to me or others? I have four piles i put stuff in...garbage, recycle, keep , and donate. Now im not saying this helps my clutter problem go totally away but it does help keep it under control. OH MY now hubbys stuff is a whole nother story! I have trouble getting him to go threw anything! If you find the trick to that let us all know LOL

I have a lot of stuff, and the problem for me is I am surrounded by a husband who has a lot of stuff and a son is living here (not at this second, but soon. His stuff is right now.)I have an advantage over you as we have a place called a reuse center at our transfer station (recycle/dump) You put stuff there and others take it. My other problem is that I am just barely recovering from that foot surgery. I drove a couple of miles to put in two prescriptions today. First I have driven. I think we should perhaps start and interest and support group here. Please keep us posted. For me it is motivation.

I've tried for years to cut down on clutter and it's hard. It's gotten to the point where I'd rather just bag up a lot of stuff and give it to a donation center like Goodwill or something just to get rid of it. I'd rather put it in a box by the street and write free on it so just so it will get away. It's difficult though to completely get rid of a lot of stuff because there are a lot of people quite resistent to getting rid of the clutter. They don't see why it has to go and they don't see it as clutter. They want to get rid of everyone elses stuff but their own and that really drives me mad.

I agree with lordlizzard. Yard sale and Freecyle are good programs. Freecycle is actually yahoo groups just go to group.yahoo.com and search for the one closest to your city. You could ask your family or friends. Maybe they could accept those office supplies. You could sale some of it on eBay or even offer it for free on Craig's list, www.cragislist.org -- they have a free section. That's what I'll recommend to you. Take care!

I started that years ago. Once you start, you can never stop.

Hi savypat, I would say if you have the extra cash to go for it in hiring a cleaning service.. If you lived near me I'd do it..lol I love clean house..lol You could take the show's idea and drag it all out to your yard and have a yard sale and what doesn't sell you can donate to a charity such as the Salvation Army, Red Cross, or National Kidney Foundation as most of those places will even come and pick the stuff up.. If you do it yourself it is going to take some time but be well worth it in the end.. I don't doubt that the stress of clutter in your home adds to your depression, I doubt it's the cause but a messy house can mess up your zen for sure.